oung Glory, having nothing better
to do, stood and looked over the rail at the setting sun, until it had
sunk below the horizon, and all was dark.

Then he threw himself down near a boat which was on the deck, and the
lapping noise of the waves, coupled with the want of rest he was
suffering from, sent him to sleep.

He had not the faintest idea how long he had been dozing, when he
suddenly woke with a start, as men will when aroused from a deep sleep.

But he never uttered a cry, and at once he fell back intending to go to
sleep again. It was against the rules to do so, but in his tired state
he never thought of this.

In a minute he would have been asleep but for the fact that he heard
some men talking, and out of mere curiosity he listened to what was
being said.

"Some of the Spanish officers," he muttered. He knew this, for the
language they were using was Spanish.

The young sailor was able to hear every word, and before the talk had
proceeded far, he was taking in every word, feeling as wide awake as
ever he had been in his life.

"Juan," said one man, "I've interested you already by what I've said."

"I confess it, Manuel."

"And you would like to hear more?"

"Of course."

"I can't understand, Juan, how it is you are ignorant of what is going
on. They know you're to be trusted."

"I should hope so," was the indignant answer. "Perhaps it is because I
have kept myself away from the others. I have felt heart broken over our
defeat."

"All the more reason why you should do what you can to repair it."

"There is no repairing it."

"Who knows?"

"I do."

"You speak confidently, Juan."

"Because, Manuel, I know where our ships are. We shall meet none as we
sail through the Caribbean Sea. No, no, Manuel, dismiss such thoughts.
Reconcile yourself to spending the next few months as prisoners of war
in America."

"A prospect I by no means fall in with. Help may be nearer than you
think, Juan."

"Help?"

"Yes."

"Not unless it descends from the skies, and the age of miracles is
past."

"The help is aboard this ship," said Manuel impressively.

"What folly," was Juan's reply. "Have we not lost enough brave men
already? I thought of that, but dismissed it from my mind at once.
Unarmed men, however numerous they are, can do nothing against men armed
to the teeth."

"Exactly my answer to Dan," muttered Young Glory. "This Spaniard is a
sensible man."

"But the plan I have in view won't cos